Swinging with the Stars contestants will be getting ready to put their best foot forward and hit the dance floor at the Barn Palais this Saturday night.
The annual event is an initiative of the Stand Like Stone Foundation and is the key fundraiser for the community foundation.
Eight members of the community with past or little to no dance experience, the ‘Stars’ were paired with dancers and had 12 weeks to learn four dances including the Quickstep, Swing, Tango and Hip-Hop.
Swinging with the Stars committee chair and Stand Like Stone Foundation board director Donna Jaeschke said the Stars devoted countless hours to ensure the night was a success.
“Our Stars have been working really hard and they all seem to have really grasped it well this year, so it’s going to be a fantastic night,” she said.
“I think for some of them it’s a real shock when they get started and it takes a bit of time to get into it when you’re not from a dancing background.
“But they have all embraced it so well and they have come along in leaps and bounds.”
During the lead-up to the event, the Stars become ambassadors for the Stand Like Stone Foundation and raise money through various fundraisers.
“They’re all very supportive of each other, you often see them at each other’s fundraising events and their dance partners are also extremely supportive, so it’s lovely to see that sort of camaraderie between the Stars,” Ms Jaeschke said.
“It is a competition, but I think more so it’s more of a friendship-gaining exercise more than anything and they have become really, really close which is lovely.”
The Star who impresses the judges the most on Saturday night will win ‘Best Dancer’ and whoever raises the most money will be crowned ‘People’s Choice Winner’.
Ms Jaeschke said ticket sales were on track and they were hoping for a packed-out Barn.
“We’re hugely appreciative of everyone that gives their time to help us with Swinging with the Stars,” she said.
“Kim Cella and the team at Hype Dance are absolutely phenomenal, Kim gives so much to the event every year.
“And our eight dancers are just volunteers as well and give so freely of their time to help their Stars which is really amazing.
“We’re supported by so many other sponsors who make the night possible, our costs are kept really low from the generous donations from so many people within the community, so we’re so thankful for all of them.”
Visit trybooking.com/BZEXA to purchase tickets.
